From the initial shock of school closings to the stores running out of toilet paper and then the final “Stay At Home” order from Governor DeWine, I was left speechless, as I watched and listened as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded.

As our Government, shut down the schools my senses gave me cause for concern. With grown children and grandchildren and my aging mother on my mind, I made calls to express my concern over the virus and to re-enforce the safety precautions set forth by our government.

As the days passed and I saw small businesses closing and employee’s being laid off, it took me a few days to get my footing. My mind had been swept by a whirlwind!

I have to admit I was a little concerned because I didn’t make the mad rush to the grocery store. My husband finally went early the following Saturday after the mad rush on the so-called precious toilet paper. I really did not understand what all the excitement was over toilet paper!

When he arrived home with a few things from the grocery store, he told me of the two grocery store attendants pulling a pallet of toilet paper from the stock room of the store.

My husband exclaimed, “You should have seen the people going after that toilet paper!” I was still thinking what is the obsession with toilet paper. Am I missing something here?

My husband returned to the car to get more of the groceries. As I looked to the door, I could see he had a big bundle of toilet paper himself.

I ask him, “Did we need toilet paper?” He replied, “No, not really.” I said smiling because I was about to laugh, “Why did you buy toilet paper then?” His reply was “I don’t know because everyone else was buying it.” We really had a good laugh over the whole toilet paper incident. And I had to wonder if everyone else was buying toilet paper for the same reason.

Finding laughter in the midst of all that has happened has lightened the stress of a very serious situation. As the saying goes, “Every cloud has a silver lining” I would like to say even if it is a White Cloud.